MR. O'CONOR AND HIS ACCUSERS.

Westport Times, Volume VI, Issue 981, 21 June 1872, Page 2

MR. O'CONOR AND HIS ACCUSERS.

[The following letters are from the ' Nelson Eveniug Mail,' and are published at the request of Mr O'Conor.J, Sib, —I ask, through your columnsthose of your readers, with whom manhood rises against foul play and oppression, to examine into the proceedings lately directed against me in the Provincial Council. I wish beforehand to state that I know some of the members are blameless, being overwhelmed and intimidated by the vehemence, the cunning, and the pertinacity of the clique, to oppose which my efforts have always been directed ; these men were my accusers —niy self-constituted judges. I have an appeal to make, and I shall make it, and with the help ouly of that strength which is always accorded to a just cause, I will soon fling back upon them that foul stigma. Need I point out to whom I refer ? The first proceedings betray them—clamorous to condemn, without a word in support or defence Then the Committee, with three at least whose prejudice against me is well known; but when I found that my most bitter personal enemy, Mr D. M. Luckie, was to direct the proceedings, I protested against the gross and palpable injustice of this real Star Chamber. I appealed to Mr Luckie himself, if he had a spark of manly feeling, not to take so cruel an advantage over me. To delude, he promised that nothing would be done but record evidence; and, seeing a stranger seated at the table, I thought he would do that; but no, my generous foe not only directed the proceedings, but acted as prosecuting examiner, and also condescended to take down the evidence. I protested again, and asked for a copy of the -evidence ; it was promised but never given. Mr Luckie kept the records in Ms own custody ; in his own handwriting; and to this minute I have not been able to obtain a copy, although I have an undoubted right, as a member of the Council, to see the evidence which, in my peculiar position, it is a crying injustice to keep from me. So hurried was I that I have been unable to obtain the attendance of some witness&s even to establish the groundwork of my defence. The telegraph messenger, whose attendance I obtained as a special favor to prove the delivery of that important telegram mentioned in the evidence, he was in some manner spirited away, and his evidence not taken; and then that report of Mr Luckie's, which is not in accordance with the evidence even of my accusers, the mock solemnity with which it was read, the manner in which the evidence was hurried over, and read by Mr Luckie with particular emphasis on parts, the evident design to hurry the indecent proceeding to a close, the attempt made to prevent my saying the few words I did in my own justification, the way in which a resolution was passed reflecting dishonor on a brother member with less consideration than would have been given to a clause in the Scab Act, and upon evidence which, partial and one-sided as it was, founded only on the bare word of my accusers, of men who openly beforehand expressed a prejudice against me, of evidence which, I say, only went towards establishing a bare probability—what does all this demand ? —enquiry. If to the people of Nelson I have ever appeared zealous in the discharge of my duty to my constituents, outspoken and fearless in the defence of right against might, they can not deny me now what I ask—justice and inquiry ; but first a copy of the evidence ; for by their own words I can do much to remove the imputation cast upon me—the work of a fiend-like malignity.—l am, &c, Eugene Joseph O'Conoe, M.P.C, M.H.E. Nelson, June 10, 1872.

Sir—ln accordance with my earnest desire, as expressed in your paper, to see the evidence. I called yesterday at the Council Chamber. The clerk showed me a part of it, in which I found proof, of what I before only suspected. I then asked for the remainder; it was not to be had. The part I saw had evidently been falsified and mutilated. As a small protection I requested that the clerk should initial every page. Mr Luckie, who was in the room, objected to his doing so; Mr Macmahon was present; the clerk then initialed the pages. I afterwards informed the Speaker of what I had noticed, and begged of him to prevent any further falsifying, and to give me the the copy so long promised. He said that he would do so. In the Council yesterday, in the evening, I stated that the report was falsified ; I asked for a copy ; I asked that an enquiry should be made upon oath before a magistrate, and I undertook to prove it. Some members at first seemed to desire the inquiry. I asked Mr Shephard, in illustration of my charge, whether he had not given a certain answer to an all-important question which I addressed to him in cross-examination. He hesitated for a while. Mr Luckie openly rose from his place, went to the clerk's table, looked at that part of the evidence there, and when he left Mr Shephard declined to answer the quest ion. I was then ruled out of order; every nerve was strained by Messrs Dbnno, Eeid, Guinness, Kynnersley, and Shepherd, to misinterpret my words. Being ruled out of order, I was compelled to withdraw. With closed doors and in secrecy, the Council

deliberated upon a charge which common decency should have urged them to meet with a complete public searching, and open inquiry upon oath before a disinterested and judicial functionary. A partial and false report of the proceedings is given in this morning's ' Colonist,' concocted by whom ? One of the parties particularly concerned, and now to-day I have applied again for a copy of the evidence for the avowed purpose of bringing the matter to light by criminal proceedings. I am still baffled. I have offered to pay any charge for the copy. lam told I must wait until it is printed—per. haps a month, perhaps three* Is that fair dealing ? I claim in justice to have a copy of that evidence, which, I say, is falsified. I ass that the original documents be impounded and seal put upon them. Do I ask more than what is right ? For answer I am bullied by my former accusers—those whom I now impeach for a crime which, in a free and Christian country, should be abhorred. If lam wrong, what have thev to fear ? My opponents are numerous, powerful and unscrupulous; I stand alone. All I ask is a copy of the evidence and a just and open enquiry ; upon oath. —I am, &c, Eugene, Joseph O'Conob, M.P.C., M.H.E. Nelson, June 11, 1872.